From the Queen City to the Middle East. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) recently announced Etihad Airways will launch four weekly, nonstop flights to Abu Dhabi (AUH) — the capital city of the United Arab Emirates — starting May 4, 2026.

"Abu Dhabi is a vibrant hub for business, culture, and tourism in the United Arab Emirates, and will expand Charlotte's global reach and connectivity to the Middle East and beyond," said Ted Kaplan, CLT's Chief Business and Innovation Officer.

Flights will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays on Etihad's flagship 303-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Already planning a dream vacation? Tickets for the Charlotte-Abu Dhabi route are now on sale, starting at $2,140.

Get your neck pillows and watch list ready. Flights between CLT and Abu Dhabi are estimated to last ~14 hours.

You can travel directly from Charlotte to Abu Dhabi starting in spring 2026. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Charlotte is Etihad's sixth US destination, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta — which launches July 2.

The announcement comes as CLT recently rose in the global rankings, becoming the world's sixth busiest airport.

Have a flight coming up? Take a look at our guide on how to navigate Charlotte Douglas.

"Charlotte is a strategic destination for us to be adding today," Adria Rabassa, Director of Network and Scheduling for Etihad Airways. "It is a destination that has a very fast growing economy, which is very much linked to the growth that Abu Dhabi is having."